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2015 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Education and Health

Chairman: Stephen H. Martin

Clerk: Patty Lung
Staff: Thomas Stevens, Ryan Brimmer
Date of Meeting: February 5, 2015
Time and Place: 8:00 A.M. - Senate Room B

S.B. 718 Telemedicine; Department of Health to establish a three-year pilot program, report.

Patron: Stanley

Telemedicine; pilot program. Directs the Department of Health, in partnership with a hospital licensed in the Commonwealth, to establish a three-year telemedicine pilot program designed to reduce patient use of emergency department facilities for the treatment of low-acuity conditions. The bill requires the Department to report the results of the pilot program to the State Board of Health and to the General Assembly by October 1, 2018.

S.B. 732 Investigational drugs; expanded access.

Patron: Stanley

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such drug, product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) the person has, in consultation with his treating physician, considered all other treatment options currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (ii) the person has been denied opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for the treatment of his terminal illness within one week of completion of the clinical trial application process or has been unable to participate in a clinical trial for the treatment of his terminal illness within 100 miles of his home address; (iii) the person's treating physician has recommended treatment with an investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided written informed consent. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides such drug, product, or device may provide it free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with its manufacture. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of such drug, product, or device; that a health insurance provider may deny coverage other than coverage for preexisting conditions or benefits that commenced prior to the time treatment with the investigational drug, biological product, or device began to a person receiving treatment with an investigational drug, biological product, or device during the period of treatment; and that no health care provider who recommends such treatment shall be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct solely on the grounds of such recommendation.

S.B. 806 Higher education institutions; fixed four-year tuition rate.

Patron: Stanley

Public institutions of higher education; fixed four-year tuition rate. Requires the board of visitors of four-year public institutions of higher education to prospectively fix the cost of tuition, room and board, and other mandatory fees for incoming Virginia freshman undergraduate students for four consecutive years under the following conditions: (i) eligible students shall be enrolled full time and remain continuously enrolled as full-time students for the period of eligibility; (ii) a class rate is annually established, in accordance with any requirements set forth in the appropriation act; (iii) rules are clearly established to address the eligibility of freshman undergraduate students, the eligibility of transfer students, and any unforeseen circumstances that may require eligible students to take a leave of absence from the institution; and (iv) information is disseminated to all students applying to the relevant institution that clearly and concisely explains program eligibility and costs.

S.B. 837 Emergency medical services personnel; alternate method created for background checks.

Patron: Puller

Emergency medical services personnel; background checks; process. Creates an alternative method for national criminal history background checks for emergency medical services personnel, allowing local governments that have procedures in place for the collection of fingerprints and personal descriptive information and the forwarding of such fingerprints and information directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to do so instead of forwarding fingerprints and information through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the national criminal history background checks.

S.B. 877 Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact; created.

Patron: Cosgrove

Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact. Creates the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact to (i) protect the public through verification of competency and ensuring of accountability for patient-care-related activities of licensed emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, (ii) facilitate the day-to-day movement of EMS personnel across state boundaries in the performance of their EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority, and (iii) authorize state EMS offices to afford immediate legal recognition to EMS personnel licensed in a member state.

S.B. 902 Minors; procedures for collection of physical evidence.

Patron: Petersen

Minors; procedures for collection of physical evidence. Allows a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse to perform a physical evidence recovery kit examination for an unemancipated minor whom he reasonably suspects is an abused or neglected child, provided (i) the licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse reports the suspected abuse, (ii) there is a need to conduct the examination in order to preserve physical evidence of the alleged abuse from degradation, and (iii) a good faith effort has been made to obtain consent to the examination from a parent or other legally authorized representative and such consent either has not been obtained or was refused.

S.B. 983 Four-year public institutions of higher education; dual enrollment programs.

Patron: Garrett

Four-year public institutions of higher education; dual enrollment programs. Permits four-year public institutions of higher education to offer at a public high school through a dual enrollment program courses similar to those offered by the comprehensive community college that serves the area when such community college is unable to offer its courses at the public high school despite good faith negotiations with the appropriate school board employees. The bill also removes obsolete provisions about extension programs and facilities for such programs.

S.B. 997 Emergency medical services personnel; background checks, process.

Patron: Stuart

Emergency medical services personnel; background checks; process. Creates an alternative method for criminal history background checks for emergency medical services personnel, allowing local governments that have procedures in place for the collection of fingerprints and personal descriptive information and the forwarding of such fingerprints and information directly to the Department of State Police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation to do so instead of forwarding fingerprints and information through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the national criminal history background checks.

S.B. 998 School divisions; concussion policies and procedures, establishing a management plan.

Patron: Stuart

School divisions; concussion policies and procedures; management plan. Requires each local school division to establish a management plan for implementation of and compliance with its policies and procedures regarding the identification and handling of suspected concussions in student-athletes.

S.B. 1045 Autism spectrum disorder; Board of Medicine to make information available on website.

Patron: Hanger

Board of Medicine; information about autism spectrum disorder. Requires the Board of Medicine to make information about the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder and the role of health care providers in identifying, diagnosing, and treating autism spectrum disorder available to licensees on a website maintained by the Board.

S.B. 1052 Developmental disabilities; definition.

Patron: Hanger

Developmental disabilities; definition. Defines "developmental disability" as a severe, chronic disability of an individual that (i) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment, or a combination of mental and physical impairments, other than a sole diagnosis of mental illness; (ii) is manifested before the individual reaches 22 years of age; (iii) is likely to continue indefinitely; (iv) results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self-sufficiency; and (v) reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

S.B. 1063 Charter schools; personnel.

Patron: Obenshain

Charter schools; personnel. Allows public charter schools to designate in their applications whether their employees will participate in the Virginia Retirement System. The bill directs the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System to develop procedures allowing school boards that approve such applications to exempt the charter school employees from participation. The bill also (i) requires at least 75 percent of public charter elementary school teachers to be licensed and at least 50 percent of public charter middle and high school teachers to be licensed and (ii) specifies that all teachers otherwise be "highly qualified," as defined by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

S.B. 1093 Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act; created.

Patron: Vogel

Movable Soccer Goal Safety Act created. Requires the Board of Health to promulgate regulations, consistent with the Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goal Safety published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, establishing safety standards for anchoring, securing, and counter-weighting movable soccer goals. The bill also prohibits the sale of movable soccer goals that are not tip-resistant beginning July 1, 2016.

S.B. 1143 Quarantine zones; establishment by the Governor.

Patron: Garrett

Establishment of quarantine zones by the Governor. Authorizes the Governor to establish quarantine zones at points of entry into the Commonwealth, including airports, seaports, and marine terminals, for the purpose of quarantining individuals who have arrived from foreign countries in which a communicable disease of public health threat, which includes the Ebola virus, has caused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a Level 3 Travel Health Notice. The bill also authorizes the Governor to direct the State Health Commissioner to declare the quarantine of such individuals. The bill contains an emergency clause.

EMERGENCY

S.B. 1149 Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices.

Patron: Stuart

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available to treat his terminal illness; (ii) the potential benefits of the use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device outweigh the risks of use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; (iii) his treating physician has recommended use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided informed written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides an investigational drug, biological product, or device for treatment of a person's terminal illness may provide the investigational drug, biological product, or device free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.

S.B. 1167 Epinephrine auto-injectors; possession and administration by certain individuals.

Patron: Hanger

Possession and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors. Requires the Commissioner of Health to identify and publish a list of certain entities or categories of entities that are located in or conduct activities in a setting where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present. The bill authorizes a prescriber to issue an order or a standing protocol in the name of such entities and authorizes an employee or agent of such entities to possess, provide, and administer epinephrine, provided such employee is trained in the administration of epinephrine. The bill also requires the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Health Professions, to adopt policies and guidelines for the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis in connection with such entities.

S.B. 1183 Higher educational institutions, four-year; fixed tuition rate.

Patron: McWaters

Public institutions of higher education; fixed four-year tuition rate. Requires the board of visitors of four-year public institutions of higher education to prospectively fix the cost of tuition, room and board, and other mandatory fees for incoming in-state freshman undergraduate students for four consecutive years under the following conditions: (i) eligible students shall be enrolled full time and remain continuously enrolled as full-time students for the period of eligibility; (ii) an in-state class rate is annually established, in accordance with any requirements set forth in the appropriation act; (iii) rules are clearly established to address the eligibility of in-state freshman undergraduate students and any unforeseen circumstances that may require eligible students to take a leave of absence from the institution; and (iv) information is disseminated to all in-state students applying to the relevant institution that clearly and concisely explains program eligibility and costs.

S.B. 1186 Naloxone; administration in cases of opiate overdose.

Patron: Obenshain

Naloxone; administration in cases of opiate overdose. Allows a practitioner to prescribe naloxone to a patient for administration to a person other than the patient when the patient believes the person is experiencing or is about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose and allows a person to possess naloxone and administer naloxone to a person experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose. The bill provides that under such circumstances (i) a person who administers naloxone to another person shall not be liable for civil damages and (ii) a prescriber shall not be civilly or criminally liable for injuries resulting from the prescription of naloxone to a patient for administration to another person. The bill also allows emergency medical services personnel and other first responders to possess and administer naloxone pursuant to a written order or standing protocol, and the bill provides that first responders and emergency medical services personnel who administer naloxone pursuant to a written order or standing protocol shall not be civilly or criminally liable for injuries resulting from the administration of naloxone.

S.B. 1197 Hospitals; policies when stillbirth occurs.

Patron: Norment

Hospitals; policies when stillbirth occurs. Requires the State Board of Health to adopt regulations that require any hospital that provides obstetrical services to establish policies to follow when a stillbirth occurs. The policies include certain procedures to follow when informing the mother, certain information to provide to the mother and family, and other procedures recognizing the sensitivity of the situation.

S.B. 1206 Higher educational institutions; required reports on intellectual property, etc., report.

Patron: Wagner

Public institutions of higher education; required reports on intellectual property and externally sponsored research. Requires public institutions of higher education by July 31 of each year to submit a written document to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science reporting on the following for the preceding fiscal year: (i) the assignment during the year of any intellectual property interests to a person or entity with a physical presence in Virginia by the institution or any related entity, (ii) the value of externally sponsored research funds and in-kind contributions received during the year from a person or entity with a physical presence in Virginia by the institution or any related entity, and (iii) the number and types of patents awarded during the year to the institution or any related entity that were developed in whole or part from externally sponsored research provided by a person or entity with a physical presence in Virginia.

S.B. 1209 New Economy Industry Credential Assistance Training Grants; established.

Patron: Wagner

Grants for earning workforce training credentials; New Economy Industry Credential Assistance Training Grants. Establishes a grant program that would pay grants to certain individuals successfully completing a noncredit workforce training program and earning the related credential in a high-demand field. The grant, up to a total of $1,000, would be limited to payment of tuition charged for the training program, the cost of any required textbooks, and the cost of any examination required to earn the credential. Individuals (i) enrolled in a public or private high school and participating in a dual enrollment program or (ii) not enrolled in a public or private middle or high school would be eligible for the grant. The noncredit workforce training program must be provided or sponsored by (i) a Virginia community college, (ii) a private institution certified to operate in Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) that has elected to participate in the grant program, or (iii) the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, New College Institute, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, or Eastern Virginia Medical School. Individuals would apply for grants directly to the school that provided or sponsored the workforce training program. The Virginia Board of Workforce Development would maintain a list of high-demand fields and the related credentials on its website. The amount of grants available each year for the program would be determined by the general appropriation act. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2016.

 

S.B. 1222 Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices.

Patron: Reeves

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available to treat his terminal illness; (ii) the potential benefits of the use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device outweigh the risks of use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; (iii) his treating physician has recommended use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided informed written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides an investigational drug, biological product, or device for treatment of a person's terminal illness may provide the investigational drug, biological product, or device free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.

S.B. 1223 Four-year public institutions of higher education; websites; consumer information.

Patron: McWaters

Four-year public institutions of higher education; websites; consumer information. Requires each four-year public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to maintain on the home page of its website and annually update no later than September 1 a tab or link, or both, labeled "Consumer Information" that includes information related to undergraduate retention and graduation rates, tuition and mandatory student fee increases, the use of student fees, postsecondary education and employment, and the institution's finances.

S.B. 1244 Chiropractors; expands scope of practice.

Patron: Newman

Practice of chiropractic; scope. Expands the scope of practice of chiropractic to include performing the physical examinations required of applicants for a new commercial driver's license or commercial driver's instruction permit or a renewal of such license or permit.

S.B. 1260 Restaurants; regulations requiring display of information about food allergies.

Patron: Deeds

Regulations governing restaurants; posting of information about food allergies. Directs the State Board of Health to adopt regulations requiring restaurants to display information related to food allergy awareness and the risk of allergic reactions. The bill requires the State Board of Health to convene a task force to study and make recommendations on issues related to food allergy awareness and associated training mandates for restaurants.

S.B. 1283 Certificate of public need; eliminates regional health planning agencies and adds an exception.

Patron: Martin

Certificate of public need. Eliminates regional health planning agencies and adds an exception to the definition of project to exclude (i) an increase in the total number of non-nursing home beds in an existing general hospital, psychiatric hospital, or rehabilitation hospital or operating rooms in an existing general hospital; (ii) the introduction of open heart surgery at a hospital that registers the new service and performed at least 1,100 adult inpatient or outpatient cardiac catheterizations, including at least 400 therapeutic catheterizations, or discharged at least 800 patients with the principal diagnosis of ischemic heart disease during the 12 months immediately preceding such registration; and (iii) the introduction of intermediate-or specialty-level neonatal special care services at an existing medical care facility that registers the new service and delivered more than 1,000 infants in the 12 months immediately preceding such registration.

S.B. 1286 Public schools; annual budget publication in line item form on school division's website.

Patron: McDougle

Public schools; annual budget publication. Requires each local school division to publish the annual school budget in line item form on its website. Current law does not require the published budget to be in line item form.

S.B. 1293 Public elementary and secondary schools; student identification numbers.

Patron: Martin

Public elementary and secondary schools; student identification numbers. Prohibits the Department of Education and each local school board from requiring any student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school or his parent to provide the student's federal social security number. The bill requires the Department to instead develop a system of unique student identification numbers and requires each local school board to assign such a number to each student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school. Under current law, every student is required to present a federal social security number within 90 days of his enrollment; if a student is ineligible to obtain a social security number or his parent is unwilling to present a social security number, the superintendent may assign another identifying number or waive the requirement.

S.B. 1310 Practitioner-owned distributorships; prohibits use of certain supplied medical devices.

Patron: Martin

Practitioner-owned distributorships. Prohibits a practitioner from using a medical device in the provision of services to a patient if the medical device was supplied directly or indirectly by a medical device distributor in which the practitioner or an immediate family member of the practitioner has a direct or indirect ownership interest if the services provided to the patient are paid for by the Commonwealth. The bill also provides certain exceptions to the prohibition.

S.B. 1327 Higher education; in-state tuition.

Patron: Reeves

Higher education; in-state tuition. Requires a public institution of higher education to grant a student in-state tuition if participation in a federal educational assistance program is conditioned on such student receiving in-state tuition.

S.B. 1339 School board clerks; electronic maintenance of records.

Patron: Smith

School board clerks; electronic maintenance of records. Permits the clerk of each school board to keep volumes of meeting minutes and receipt and disbursement records, vouchers, contracts, and other official papers electronically.

S.B. 1340 School board clerks; electronic maintenance of records.

Patron: Newman

School board clerks; electronic maintenance of records. Permits the clerk of each school board to keep volumes of meeting minutes and receipt and disbursement records, vouchers, contracts, and other official papers electronically.

S.B. 1347 Uniformed services-connected students; identification.

Patron: Miller

Uniformed services-connected students; identification. Requires the Department of Education to establish a process for the identification by local school divisions of newly enrolled students who have a parent in the uniformed services. Local school divisions are required to identify such students in accordance with the process. Nonidentifiable, aggregate data collected from the identification of such students shall be made available to local, state, and federal entities for the purposes of enhancing the funding and quality of services provided to serve the unique needs of uniformed services-connected students residing in the Commonwealth.

S.B. 1354 Uniformed services-connected students; identification.

Patron: Reeves

Uniformed services-connected students; identification. Requires the Department of Education to establish a process for the identification by local school divisions of newly enrolled students who have a parent in the uniformed services. Local school divisions are required to identify such students in accordance with the process. Nonidentifiable, aggregate data collected from the identification of such students shall be made available to local, state, and federal entities for the purposes of enhancing the funding and quality of services provided to serve the unique needs of uniformed services-connected students residing in the Commonwealth.

S.B. 1369 Establishment of the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics Academy.

Patron: Norment

Establishment of the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics Academy. Establishes the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy, Inc., as a private, nonprofit organization and a statewide, publicly accessible, special, residential high school of science, technology, engineering, and applied mathematics governed by a board of directors of up to 21 appointed, elected, and ex officio members whose leadership and direction of the Virginia STEAM Academy is informed by a consortium leadership team consisting of students and parents and representatives from elementary and secondary education, higher education, business, science, engineering, the arts, civic organizations, government, and the military. The bill requires the board of directors to establish a curriculum and a student admissions process and seek independent accreditation for the Virginia STEAM Academy. The bill requires the Virginia STEAM Academy to receive the proportionate share of state and federal funds allocated to each enrolled student by the school division in which the student's parents reside and the agreed-upon share of local funds allocated to each enrolled student by the school division in which the student's parents reside that is established in the general appropriation act.

S.B. 1370 Richmond City Public Schools Learning Excellence by Aligning Public Schools Commission.

Patron: Watkins

Richmond City Public Schools Learning Excellence by Aligning Public Schools Commission. Establishes the Richmond City Public Schools Learning Excellence by Aligning Public Schools Commission for the purposes of evaluating Richmond City Public Schools facilities and making recommendations to the Richmond City School Board, Richmond City Council, and Mayor of Richmond. The bill also establishes a trust to fund the recommendations of the Commission. The provisions of the bill sunset on July 1, 2017.

S.B. 1380 Schedule I drugs.

Patron: Obenshain

Schedule I drugs. Adds N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(cyclohexylmethyl)indazole-3-carboxamide (other name: AB-CHMINACA), N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(5-fluoropentyl)indazole-3-carboxamide (other name: 5-fluoro-AMB), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylcathinone (other names: Dimethylone, bk-MDDMA) to Schedule I of the Drug Control Act, in accordance with the action of the Board of Pharmacy adding these substances to Schedule I pursuant to § 54.1-3443.

S.B. 1386 Teacher licensure; professional development.

Patron: Vogel

Teacher licensure; professional development. Requires every person seeking initial teacher licensure or renewal of a teaching license to receive professional development on the screening, intervention, accommodation, and use of technology for students with reading disabilities, including dyslexia.

S.B. 1393 Pharmacists; compounding of drugs for use in executions.

Patron: Saslaw

Pharmacists; compounding of drugs for use in executions. Empowers the Director of the Department of Corrections to make and enter into contracts with an external entity to compound the drugs necessary to carry out execution by lethal injection. The bill also ensures that information relating to the identity of the entity compounding drugs for use in executions and all documents related to the execution process are confidential, exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, and not subject to discovery or introduction as evidence in a civil proceeding except for good cause shown.

S.B. 1408 Emergency services; routine review, report.

Patron: Deeds

Routine review of emergency services; report. Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to establish benchmarks and standards for emergency services provided by community services boards and behavioral health authorities and to conduct annual reviews of emergency services provided by community services boards and behavioral health authorities to determine the extent to which they meet such benchmarks and standards. The bill requires the Department to report the results of such review to the General Assembly no later than December 1 of each year.

S.B. 1409 Community services boards; DBHDS to enter into agreements with certain health care providers.

Patron: Deeds

Community services boards; emergency services; access to experts. Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to enter into agreements with health care providers experienced in the provision of emergency services for the provision of technical assistance and guidance to employees and designees of community services boards and behavioral health authorities who conduct evaluations for emergency custody and temporary detention and who provide other emergency services.

S.B. 1415 Certificate of public need; definition of project.

Patron: Dance

Certificate of public need; projects. Excludes capital expenditures by or on behalf of a general hospital from the definition of project.

S.B. 1417 Counseling, Board of; violation of standards of practice.

Patron: Petersen

Board of Counseling; standards of practice. Prohibits any person licensed by the Board of Counseling (the Board) from violating the Board's standards of practice regarding dual relationships, romantic relationships, or sexual intimacies with a client, supervisee, or student. The bill requires every person licensed by the Board to post in his office the Department of Health Professions phone number to report suspected abuse of the standards of practice.

S.B. 1426 Standards of Learning; reduces total number and type of required assessments.

Patron: Smith

Public schools; Standards of Learning assessments. Reduces the total number and type of required Standards of Learning assessments to the minimum requirements established by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, except that additional Standards of Learning assessments may be administered for the purposes of awarding verified units of credit. The bill requires the Board of Education to provide for the administration of an alternative assessment to a statistically representative sample of students in each school in each Standards of Learning subject area in which a Standards of Learning assessment was not administered during the school year.

S.B. 1434 Dead bodies; disposition, identification of decedent.

Patron: Hanger

Disposition of dead bodies. Provides that in cases in which the identity of a decedent and the county or city in which the decedent resided at the time of death are known, the person or institution having initial custody of the dead body shall notify the primary law-enforcement agency for the county or city in which the decedent resided of the decedent's death, and such law-enforcement agency shall make good faith efforts to identify and notify the next of kin of the decedent. Currently, the primary law-enforcement agency for the county or city in which the person or institution having initial custody of the dead body is located is responsible for making good faith efforts to identify the decedent and notify the decedent's next of kin.

S.B. 1446 Training centers; discharge plans.

Patron: Miller

Training centers; discharge plans. Prohibits a community services board or training center staff from preparing or discussing a new discharge plan for an individual for at least nine months after an initial discharge plan is complete.